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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 3, 2007 Medford violates bidding rule on wireless tower Council members agree to exemption on work already done By Meg Landers Mail Tribune The city of Medford violated the competitive bidding process in building the new 180-foot-high wireless communication tower on Roxy Ann Peak, City Council members learned Thursday. During a public hearing, Technology Services Director Doug Townsend asked the council for an exemption from competitive bidding to build a third platform for the tower — after the platform already had been constructed. Councilman Jason Anderson said he was concerned the city now had no option but to approve spending the extra money. "We're handcuffed right now," he said. "They performed the work and what if we don't approve this?" Townsend said the competitive bidding process was followed in initially awarding the $68,700 contract for the platforms to Rogue Line LLC of Medford. Advertisement Municipal code allows the city to exceed the contract amount by 25 percent should unforeseen expenses occur. But a change in materials for the platforms, needed because of soil composition, already had eaten up the contingency money. The project team learned that a necessary third platform, costing $20,000, had mistakenly been left off the initial engineering drawings, Townsend said. Anderson asked how the platform was built prematurely. Townsend said by the time he learned from the city's legal department that the city needed to go through the competitive bidding process and he informed Rogue Line, the platform already had been installed. The tower is part of a flagship project for the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network. OWIN has grown out of the Department of Homeland Security's "Safecom" program, which is working toward a wireless system that is compatible for all city, county, state and federal public safety agencies across the country. The entire project is funded by $650,000 in grants from the Department of Homeland Security and $300,000 from the federal government's wireless network plan. Southern Oregon Regional Communications, the county's emergency dispatch service representing 36 local agencies, and the sheriff's office paid for the antenna. "Apparently somebody messed up," said Anderson. "It disturbs me more than just a little bit that we are forced to approve something that's already been done." Councilman Bob Strosser, who is on the policy-making body that oversees the OWIN program, said he didn't want to assign blame. "Yes this did happen and yes I did look into it," he said. Strosser said he wanted the project to move forward quickly because of looming grant deadlines. Anderson asked what the consequences were if the council didn't approve the exemption. Lori Cooper, senior assistant attorney, said the city is legally bound to pay the contractor for the work. But if another contractor wanted to protest the city's violation of the public bidding process, it would have the option of filing a written appeal, she said. The council approved the exemption unanimously. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary